Pole brace and ballasting device

ABSTRACT

A pole brace and ballasting device having a weight container adapted to retain and discharge a dry or fluid load bearing material therein, designed to be positioned upright against a tent pole or poles, of adequate length and sufficiently ridged to brace a pole. A clamp or clamps for attachment to a variety of pole dimensions both angular and round while allowing for the closing of the tent&#39;s outer protective cover with the capacity to selectively suspend the ballasting load to increase its effectiveness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise materials, arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention attached to a telescoping pole

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the weight container taken along lines 3-3 in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the pole brace and ballasting device taken along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 1

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of pole clamp block 11.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the pole brace and ballasting device in FIG. 1 used for supporting tent poles.

FIG. 6 is a sectional top view of the pole clamp assembly horizontal pole through hole 34 taken along the lines 5-3 in FIG. 1

FIG. 7 is a top sectional view of the pole brace and ballasting device taken along the lines 5-3 in FIG.1 showing the pole clamp assembly attached to a cut-away section of a round tent pole.

KEY TO DRAWINGS

10 pole brace and ballasting device

11 pole clamp block for attaching the pole brace and ballasting device to a pole

12 fastener for drawing clamp blocks against a pole.

13 connecting channel for pole clamp block 11

14 top wall of weight container 22

15 bottom wall of weight container 22

16 threaded opening for charging and discharging a fluidic or dry ballasting load

17 threaded plug for opening 16

18 aperture for receiving fastener 12

19 pole clamp block jaw

20 connecting projection for engaging clamp block with the corresponding connecting channel 13 of weight container 22

21 wing nut

22 weight container

23 adjustable pole clamp assembly

24 slip resistant surface

25 upper tent pole element of a telescoping pole

26 tent

27 turn slot

28 lower tent pole element of a telescoping pole

29 tent pole

30 tent pole base plate

31 pole clamp block outer jaw

32 tent canopy

33 pole clamp block inner jaw

34 horizontal pole through hole

35 round pole

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a pole brace and ballasting device 10 in accordance with the present invention. By way of illustration and not by limitation, pole brace and ballasting device 10 is of a generally square and elongated compact configuration designed to be positioned upright against a ten pole 29 (Best seen in FIG.5) minimizing the risk to the public of tripping or entanglement. Pole brace and ballasting device 10 comprises a hollow container 22 which is preferably constructed of a rigid and leak proof synthetic plastic material of adequate width and length so as to contain enough weight to provide sufficient ballast while bracing two elements of a telescoping pole. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, an internally threaded opening 16 located at the central portion of the top wall 14 of weight container 22 can be tightly closed by inserting an externally threaded sealing plug 17 by means of turn slot 27 for selectively charging and discharging a dry or fluid load bearing material therein; it being understood that opening 16 and plug 17 may be located at other suitable locations on weight container 22.

Shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, is the adjustable pole clamp assembly 23 containing a right and left pole clamp block 11. Pole clamp connecting channel 13, which can be formed or attached, is set in a perpendicular direction of tent pole elements 25 and 28 in two exterior walls, at about a right angle to each other, of weight container 22. Pole clamp block 11 is operatively connected to pole clamp channel 13 by connecting projection 20 (best seen in FIG. 4). Upon engaging pole clamp connecting channel 13, pole clamp block 11 is movable toward and away from stationary tent pole 29 permitting the enlargement or reduction of the horizontal pole through hole 34. This operative connection allows for the attachment to a variety of pole dimensions. After adjusting said discrete pole clamp blocks 11 relative to each other along pole clamp connecting channel 13, clamp jaw 19 and slip resistant surface 24, preferable rubberized, are brought to bear against the pole and a properly sized horizontal pole through hole 34 is formed. Inserting fastener 12, being of sufficient length to engage two discrete pole clamp blocks 11, into common aperture 18 and tightening wing nut 21 draws the right and left clamp blocks 11 together thereby tightly griping the pole and completing the formation of the adjustable pole clamp assembly 23. It being understood, however, any other suitable tightening method such as a draw latch or threaded fastener and imbedded mating collar may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention.

As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, as previously stated the pole clamp assembly is made up of two discrete pole clamp blocks 11 each having a clamp jaw 19 set about a

90° angle composed of an inner 33 an outer jaw 31. Upon engagement of each said discrete pole clamp block 11 to the pole clamp connecting channel 13, the inner jaws 33 of each pole clamp block 11 will automatically position in a perpendicular direction to its corresponding connecting channel 13 and the outer jaws 31 position in a parallel direction to its corresponding pole clamp connecting channel 13; forming a square horizontal pole through hole 34. Being so arranged permits the pole clamp assembly 23 to readily and effectively secure to a round 35 or square pole 29.

In addition to being suitable for a round or square pole of a variety of pole dimensions, pole clamp assembly 23 in conjunction with weight container 22 of the present invention may also be used to brace a telescoping tent pole. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, weight container 22 is secured between pole elements 25 and 28 by means of the compressing force of pole clamp assembly 23 set in a lateral series along weight container 22 to effectively brace tent pole elements 25 and 28 together thereby strengthening tent pole 29.

As best seen in FIG. 5, is the position and elongated nature of weight container 22 in relation to tent pole 29 and tent 26. In this manner the mass of pole 29 is substantially increased by way of the column formed by weight container 22 with the option of selectively positioning the pole brace and ballasting device 10, by use of the pole clamp assembly 23, from coming in contact and at rest with the ground and up toward the weightless canopy 32 to further increase its effectiveness and reduce the wind's ability to cause severe differential displacement, or racking.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, pole clamp assembly 23 engaged with pole clamp connecting channel 13 along weight container 22 forms said square horizontal pole through hole 34 and aligns it diagonally with the right angle of the connecting channel. This will permit the diagonal positioning of pole brace and ballasting device 10 to an inside corner of a square tent pole or tent's perimeter thereby enabling the closing of a pole-using tent's outer protective cover during inclement weather or to provide security when the tent is unoccupied.

Referring back to FIG. 7, is shown the pole clamp assembly 23 attached to a round pole. When the use of a tight fitting protective cover is applied about a round or square pole, it has been determined that a preferably thickness of about 9 mm or less of the outer jaw 31, of pole clamp block 11, will permit deployment of the tent cover.

The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that there are numerous alternatives, modifications or substitutions which may be made which still would be within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A pole brace and ballasting device adapted to be vertically positioned along the length of at least one pole of a pole using tent or temporary structure for the purpose of bracing and holding the pole or poles comprising: [a] a weight container of a generally elongated hollow body for selectively receiving and discharging a dry or fluid load bearing material therein; [b] an opening with reference to the weight container for selectively receiving and discharging a load bearing material; [c] a removable plug for the weight container opening; [d] a pole clamp means disposed exteriorly of said weight container for receiving at least one pole passing through at least one said pole clamp for selectively and releasably securing said weight container along the length of a pole; and [e] a means of releasably securing said pole clamp to the weight container.
 2. A pole brace and ballasting device according to claim 1, wherein said weight container is constructed of a synthetic plastic material, having at least two walls at a right angle to each other, of adequate length and sufficiently ridged to affix to a telescoping pole or pole for the purpose of bracing the pole.
 3. A pole brace and ballasting device according to claim 1, wherein said pole clamp comprises of one or more of each of the following: a right pole clamp block; a left pole clamp block; a pole clamp block connectable projection for releasably securing to said weight container; a pole clamp block jaw for receiving a pole and having a slip resistant surface for griping a pole; a common horizontally extending pole clamp block aperture; a nut; and a fastener adapted to extend through the aperture to releasably secure the weight container to a pole.
 4. A pole brace and ballasting device according to claim 3, wherein the pole clamp jaw is adapted as to allow the closing of a pole using tent's outer protective cover when clamped to a pole.
 5. A pole brace and ballasting device according to claim 1, wherein said weight container, when at least in an assembled condition, having at least one corresponding connecting channel to said pole clamp set along the perpendicular direction of a pole and formed at about a right angle for releasably securing the pole clamp to the weight container.
 6. A pole brace and ballasting device according to claim 5, wherein said connecting channel to said pole clamp further comprising an operative association to selectively compose a properly sized horizontal pole through hole for receiving a variety of pole dimensions.
 7. A pole brace and ballasting device according to claim 5, wherein said pole clamp block connecting channel, being so arranged, is adapted to enable the selective positioning of said weight container on the inside perimeter of a pole-using tent to allow the closing of the tent's outer protective cover.
 8. A pole brace and ballasting device according to claim 7, wherein the pole is secured at a corner formed by said pole clamp connecting channel.
 9. A pole brace and ballasting device according to claim 3, wherein said pole clamp is adapted for the selective positioning of the weight container, along the length of the pole, from coming in contact and at rest with the ground to increase the effectiveness of the ballasting load.
 10. A pole brace and ballasting device according to claim 3, wherein the jaw of said pole clamp block further comprising one of each of the following: an outer jaw; said outer jaw positioned in a parallel direction to its said corresponding connecting channel when the clamp block is engaged to the channel; and an inner jaw; said inner jaw positioned in a perpendicular direction to its said corresponding connecting channel when the clamp block is engaged to the channel.
 11. A pole brace and ballasting device according to claim 10, wherein said pole clamp block is adapted for the selective positioning of the weight container around the pole to allow the closing of a tent's outer protective cover.
 12. A pole brace and ballasting device according to claim 10, wherein said pole clamp jaw is adapted for receiving one or each of the following: a square pole; and a round pole. 